2012 M8 ProClimb

[hasslbri]

Just got back from Alpine, Wy. Found good snow all week. (Had to look) Got 415 miles o my new sled. Here are my observations.

Pros - Handling is amazing. Very flickable. Good weight transfer. Lays on its side very easily. I love the ergos minus the seat. The running boards cleaned out very well. Much better than the 09-11 Ms. The ride is excellent. The front end is better than the rear. Both are very good. The engine is what I expected (strong). I had zero belt issues and I am very hard on the gas. We found several long pulls where it was pinned up hill for minutes and I had no issues. Also found some deep snow where I had it pinned for a long time with no belt issues. I did talk to some guys on the trail that were having major belt issues so I'm not saying there not there. I just must have been one of the lucky ones.

Cons - Oil pump. I burned mine done riding it to the mail box and back. The oil pump failed (never worked). Got it rebuilt and it runs great ever since. The seat is too tall for jumping side to side. It is comfortable on the trail sections but a hinderance side hilling and making uphill transitions. I thought the ski stance would bother me but it didn't. What bothered me was the turning radius. After riding the 09-11s for the last three seasons it needs to steer sharper. I will be fixing this. This not only affect turning around trees going slow but also counter steering and side hilling. The last thing that I really do not like is the gas tank. Why do we had 8" of foam yet 1 gallon less fuel. This thing needs at least a 11.5 gallon tank. I ran out 5 times in two days. Thankfully I carry gas. I also will be putting screens on the exhaust side. In deep snow it scoops it up and piles it around the silencer. This adds maybe 10 lbs. of weight.

Mods - SLP Silencer, Mountain Addiction Tack Rack, SLP Powder Pros, Handlebar Bag, HOT DOGGER. Clutch weights for 8-10 (cat specs).

All in all it is a very good first year sled from cat. I know there are some issues with some. I am lucky clutch-wise. Cat covered my burn down and it runs awesome now. It does need a few more pounds removed, a tighter steering radius, a slightly lower seat, and some suspension adjustments to keep it from trenching. I will admit that a Polaris Pro will out climb it stock for stock, but I like the handling of the Climb a hair better. I am super happy and after riding the climb, I could never go back to the old M.

Brian

 

[Solby]

I agree 100% good review

 

[kepp2]

Just got back from Alpine, Wy. Found good snow all week. (Had to look) Got 415 miles o my new sled. Here are my observations.

Pros - Handling is amazing. Very flickable. Good weight transfer. Lays on its side very easily. I love the ergos minus the seat. The running boards cleaned out very well. Much better than the 09-11 Ms. The ride is excellent. The front end is better than the rear. Both are very good. The engine is what I expected (strong). I had zero belt issues and I am very hard on the gas. We found several long pulls where it was pinned up hill for minutes and I had no issues. Also found some deep snow where I had it pinned for a long time with no belt issues. I did talk to some guys on the trail that were having major belt issues so I'm not saying there not there. I just must have been one of the lucky ones.

Cons - Oil pump. I burned mine done riding it to the mail box and back. The oil pump failed (never worked). Got it rebuilt and it runs great ever since. The seat is too tall for jumping side to side. It is comfortable on the trail sections but a hinderance side hilling and making uphill transitions. I thought the ski stance would bother me but it didn't. What bothered me was the turning radius. After riding the 09-11s for the last three seasons it needs to steer sharper. I will be fixing this. This not only affect turning around trees going slow but also counter steering and side hilling. The last thing that I really do not like is the gas tank. Why do we had 8" of foam yet 1 gallon less fuel. This thing needs at least a 11.5 gallon tank. I ran out 5 times in two days. Thankfully I carry gas. I also will be putting screens on the exhaust side. In deep snow it scoops it up and piles it around the silencer. This adds maybe 10 lbs. of weight.

Mods - SLP Silencer, Mountain Addiction Tack Rack, SLP Powder Pros, Handlebar Bag, HOT DOGGER. Clutch weights for 8-10 (cat specs).

All in all it is a very good first year sled from cat. I know there are some issues with some. I am lucky clutch-wise. Cat covered my burn down and it runs awesome now. It does need a few more pounds removed, a tighter steering radius, a slightly lower seat, and some suspension adjustments to keep it from trenching. I will admit that a Polaris Pro will out climb it stock for stock, but I like the handling of the Climb a hair better. I am super happy and after riding the climb, I could never go back to the old M.

Brian

Check out Bret Rasmussen steering upgrade this will help big time with your steering, kind of surprised that Pro-RMK is beating you on climbs that's not happening here in the Northwest of B.C. Your a lucky guy to have no belt issues are you hearing any chatter from your clutches when you come off of the flipper?

 

[hasslbri]

I am only hearing a slight chatter at lower R's. I kind of wonder if I am not hearing the primary fan. Not sure though. I already talked to some of the Rasmussen crew when we were in the parking lot at Willow. Those guys were very friendly and informative and I am going to order up the link for the steering. Being the boss seats are 4-6 weeks out. I am going to cut my stock seat first and maybe order a boss in the off season. If I order one now, I won't get to use it this year. The only place I got beat by a Pro was in 4-5' of bottomless fluff. I just couldn't climb the hill straight up. I would have to turn out 2/3 of the way out and side hill my way to the top. The pro with a less experienced rider climbed straight up and over the top.

 

[byeatts]

I am only hearing a slight chatter at lower R's. I kind of wonder if I am not hearing the primary fan. Not sure though. I already talked to some of the Rasmussen crew when we were in the parking lot at Willow. Those guys were very friendly and informative and I am going to order up the link for the steering. Being the boss seats are 4-6 weeks out. I am going to cut my stock seat first and maybe order a boss in the off season. If I order one now, I won't get to use it this year. The only place I got beat by a Pro was in 4-5' of bottomless fluff. I just couldn't climb the hill straight up. I would have to turn out 2/3 of the way out and side hill my way to the top. The pro with a less experienced rider climbed straight up and over the top.

good honest review.............

 

[Steelman]

I agree with the rest, great job with the review

 

[Goin For Snow]

good unbiased review.

 

[hasslbri]

Couple of pics from Alpine. Sorry no action shots. It's tough for me to stop long enough to take out my camera.

Brian

 

[hasslbri]

First pic is a failed water crossing. Went too slow. Clutch got wet. Dooh...

 

[9lives]

nice pics.......... looks like you had some good snow.

i take it cats still can't swim

 

[spencer]

Pro owner I am, I like the looks of the 12 AC sled and love the Cat Power. I was surprised to see so many honest reviews, perhaps it will take another year to dial it in.

It is most helpful when we all critic our new sleds, I will be watching this thread as I want to buy new again in 2014.

FYI, love the way my Pro handles and can't wait to try the 2012 AC Pro Climb for comparison.


Thanks

 

[hasslbri]

Ordered up a Rassmussen Steering Arm. Watched the You Tube instructional video and put it in today. After watching the video it looked like alot more work than I wanted to do. Tore into it and in just a hair over an hour it was done. Very straight forward. Can't wait to give it a rip. Gonna cut my skis next. Counting the days until Tog.!

Brian

 

[dmkhnr]

I rented one for the day at Cooke last week. It's a great sled, and I think that all my complaints will be remedied with the 2013 or less expensive aftermarket parts.

Skis suck, too wide of stance, handlebars needs to go forward 1.5" (aftermarket offset block), seat was too wide, and I thought a little low but not a big deal as I stand 99% of the time. I found the footboards too short, as my foot position often found myself on top of the kickup. Adjustable steering post had major slop.

The good: Great power, easy to lay over, much like the M-sled. I found the discussed track washout on a down/uphill turn, but also found that if you lay it over further than what you would the M-sled that it would rip right around without washing out. Susp is plush.

I rode the sled like a rental, and never had any type of belt problems, I even held it WOT for over a minute trying to heat the handwarms (my hands were freezing). I did experience the low speed grinding, but it was intermittant and I actually thought it was a pulled beld cord but the noise went away. Clutching was very good, sled hit R's and held all day.

My honest opinion is you got a great sled. I know cat will release the 13's next month and alot of my concerns will be dealt with. I also feel that you won't see the narrow a-arms any time soon as this will be a selling point which will drive you 12 guys to snowcheck an 13. I didn't see any problem with the turning radius, nor did I feel it was any heavier than my pro.
I guess thats enough chatter out of me!!!
ENJOY